India and Singapore sign key agreements during Modi’s visit
Four agreements on semiconductors, health, skilling and digital security were signed between India and Singapore Thursday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the Southeast Asian country.
The decades-long cooperation was also elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—signalling Singapore’s deepening role as India’s critical partner in the “Act East” policy.
Modi announced that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would soon open in Singapore, during remarks in the meeting with Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong.
“Singapore will progress further,” Modi said under its fourth-generation leaders—popularly called the “4G” rung—who are the youngest in the Cabinet.
Wong’s predecessor Lee Hsien Loong and his team were called the third-generation leaders, or “3G”, as he was the third prime minister of the city-state. Wong assumed the premiership in May 2024.
Modi also said Singapore was not just a partner country but “an inspiration” for every developing country. “We, too, want to create many Singapores in India… Initiatives have been identified for cooperation in areas such as skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI, healthcare, sustainability, and cyber security,” he said at the meeting.
All areas of cooperation identified by the two countries were a part of the four memorandums of agreement signed during the visit. Modi also visited the semiconductor facilities of AEM Holdings, along with Wong.